By Anita Thomas
Mary J. Blige helps the designers of Extreme Home Makeover rebuild the home of the Ward family in Erie,Pa . On this two hour episode the team surprises Clara Ward by not just giving her a new start, but providing hope to so many children that need her love and support.

Clara Ward runs a nonprofit youth and family center in her home. She has set her health issues aside to care for these kids and to help their families. Clara at one time was in the same situation as these kids are today, vowing to help as many as she can so they will not suffer as she had once done. Clara’s muscular degenerative disease makes the care and help these families need that much more of a challenge, but that has not slowed her down. What has slowed her down is the cracked foundation and leaky roof of her home. The peeling paint on the walls and a broken sewage pipe threatens not just her life, but her mission to make this city a city of hope for the youth. The two story home was falling apart in front of her eyes and her wheel chair was making it more difficult to maneuver from one room to another.

With the home in disrepair Clara was living with her daughter and commuting back and forth from the youth center (her original home) to her daughters. With the new home built and wheel chair accessible she is able to continue feeding, providing clothes, shelter when needed and the nurturing care to the youth that has now come to depend on her. Not only was her home rebuilt from the ground up, but several children in the area were able to get a bedroom makeover. Many of these children did not have the necessities to help them get a comfortable nights sleep. Often three to four children would share one room and one bed. The new room makeovers redesigned the bedrooms to allow each child their own bed.

The heart warming story of Clara Ward touched the soul of Ms. Blige saying that being there and helping in the process of rebuilding her home and the lives of so many has made this year her best year so far. Tears filled with joy and compassion fell from not only guest Mary J. Blige, but from the entire community who felt no one deserved this more then Clara Ward. CVS Pharmacy set aside a $25,000 fund to help supply needed items to run the center throughout the years. The Ward home will be providing care and hope to many families and to many children for a very long time.